Method and machine for forming and filling bags



Dec. 8, 1970 K. R. JOHNSON ETA!- 3,545,156

METHQD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 18.Sheets--Sbeet 1 Q g %ennef4 012610011 (T v foerf fzende r Q Q w o Q h tdoffi, W VLF 4634 R TO Q'OEYJ 1970 K. R. JOHNSON L METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed D90. 8, 1967 19 Sheets-Sheet a Qj hmf l aberiF- leno'a Dec. 8, 1970 3,545,166

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING B AGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL l8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ila-W EIIIIIIII-ImI-I-II johJO b b9dennef/z Q.

K. R. JOHNSON ETAL Dec. 8, 1970 3,545,1fi6

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS l8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Dec.

a o sg sas$533333 ES? 9J i (4 Q V F l 1 li 1:1 z!!.|I Lmwf 3 Q1; lilllll|lll|ia Ill: v :1 d :1. U I 9 9 MM d-rTowoEyf Dec. 8, 1970 R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,545,155

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 E IOS QTTOWEYJ M4 W4, yaw 00W Dec. 8, 1970 K; R. JOHNSON ETA!- 3,545,156

METHOD AND IACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 1a Sheets-Sheet e 95ennei'4 ware/z, QaberZ KLQnQe 1 2M4 YA: am;

CAT RME Dec. 8, 1970 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,545,166

- METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 18 Sheets--Shet 7 WV fife/1212a Q $61400 oberfqllende Dec. 8, 1970 v K. R. JOHNSON iETAL ,5

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS v Filed Dec. a; 1967 .18 Sheets-Sheet a ACTIVE. STROKE OF PlTMAN LENGTH OF EACH s'rs 3 I Efl 3 3 g? Y 92. g/ k m I l 5L J *1" l g E5 1 1)) E i t: @J Q i 5 1-1, il L7 g -i I 3 mu 9L e/7neM tznuorc erfkflende oqw-Tommzlyf METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 K. R. JOHNSON E AL Dec. 8, 1970 l8 Sheets-Sheet 9 m @Q J w mm 5 m hllh 4 m W Z w m v m m m N e Tbow u M M rr L J m; fiW VJr-XQQ CBTTQRMJEY/ War Dec. 8, 1970 I K. R. JOHNSON ETA!- 3,545,156

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8,- 1967 V 1s Sheets-Sheet 10 m 'QEenneM 2 Q7 md m arz fi q Len ge 7 4 W VJ 4E 21 Qfi-r-roma w Dec. 8, 1970 i JOHNSQN ETAL I 7 3,545,166

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet 11 Dec. 8,1970

1 K. R. JOHNSON AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 ,18 Sheets-Sheet 12 Dec. 8,-1970 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,545,156

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed D e s; 1967 l8 Sheets- -Shee t 1s Qdennefi Q -Q% hnd0m Ewart #5121162 00%, W4, VJJ 4 ATTOQIQEJ Dec. 8, 1 970 K. R. JOHNSON EFAL 3,545,165

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS 7 Filed Dec. 8, 1967 l8 Sheets-Sheet 14.

9dennefi QyOJVMv/b gabe rt fi'z lende dn'orwosy Dec. 8, 1970 K. R. JOHNSON ETAI- 3,545,166

7 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec 8, 1967 18 Sheets--Sheet'15 m if Z3 0 M 2 M fwd v M -2 Q3 Dec. 8, 1970 K, R, o sb ETAL 3,545,166

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8,.1967 l8 Sheets-Sheet 16 966N112 2%. Q19)? "Jon.

oberf Lenu'e M4,, Yu- 4 4M jlwworuosyf Dec. 8, 1970 -K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,545,166

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 18 Sheets-Sheet l7 1/ iii/11711" "/IIIIIIIII/llo m %erzne('h. Join 1.101

Qoberf 1-? benu e 3, #44 W vwh (24% T To msvw Dec. 8, 1970 JOHNSQN ETAL 3,545,166

METHOD AND- MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING BAGS Filed Dec. 8, 1967 l8 Sheets-Sheet 18 Qdwmedfi 4260 1 M6 2 /=?oe/Z bends drromnuaf United States Patent O US. Cl. 53-29 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE For forming bags from a continuous web of flexible material and for filling the bags with a quantity of loosely compacted and irregularly shaped particles, the web first is advanced continuously through a coating station where a rotatable drum prints adhesive strips on the web, is advanced step-by-step along a horizontal path through a forming station where the web is folded gradually into a tube with an upwardly facing seam, and then is advanced through a sealing station where some of the adhesive strips are activated to seal the seam and to form the bottom seals of the ultimate bags. Thereafter, the tube is severed along the leading edge of each bottom Seal to separate the tube into a number of bags with horizontally facing open ends, the bags are turned into upright positions with the open ends facing upwardly, and then are advanced in spaced relation through a filling station to receive a measured charge of the particles. Before being filled, the body of each bag is expanded with air and the open end of the bag is formed into a generally circular mouth to accommodate a rapidly flowing particle stream of large cross-section. After the bag has been filled, the circular mouth is stretched and flattened and the remaining adhesive strip is activated to seal the mouth and enclose the particles in the bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and machine for forming bags from a continuous web of flexible material such as metallic foil and for filling the bag with a product which herein consists of irregularly shaped and loosely compacted food particles. More particularly, the invention relates to the formation of bags by applying adhesive strips to the web in a predetermined pattern, by folding the web into a tube with a longitudinal seam, by activating the adhesive strips to seal the tube along the seam and along longitudinally spaced lines extending crosswise of the tube, and by severing the tube in the area of the cross-seals to separate the web into a number of individual bags. The bags then are turned into upright positions with the open ends facing upwardly for advance. ment through a filling station, are filled with a measured charge of the particles, and are sealed across the upper ends to enclose the product in the bags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the primary objects of the invention is to insure a uniform application of adhesive along each of the strips by printing the strips on the web While the latter is being advanced with a continuous motion and, at the same time, to enable the use of simpler and less expensive mechanisms for forming the bags by advancing the web with an intermittent motion during folding, sealing and severing of the web.

More detailed objects of the invention are to provide a novel mechanism which not only support the bags as the latter are being severed from the tube but which also transfers the bags into upright positions for advancement through the filling station; to provide a new and improved bag opener operable to pull the open end of each bag into a generally circular mouth capable of receiving a rapidly flowing particle stream of large crosssection; and to provide a unique stretcher for flattening the circular mouth before the upper end of the bag is sealed thereby to insure the formation of a uniform and wrinkle-free seal.

The invention also is characterized by a novel method for preparing the relatively flat bags for filling with a comparatively large volume of the loosely compacted particles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a newly formed bag made by a machine embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2a is a schematic perspective view of the bagforming section of the machine.

FIG. 2b is a continuation of FIG. 2a and is a schematic perspective view of the bag-filling section of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag after being filled and sealed.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of mechanism for printing the adhesive strips on the web.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the web after being printed with the adhesive strips.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of mechanism for advancing the web continuously during printing of the strips.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of mechanism for compensating for the changeover from the continuous to the intermittent advance of the web.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of parts shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 11 and showing mechanism for folding the web.

FIG 11 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of mechanism for sealing the tube.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary end elevation of parts shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 13 and showing the tube being sealed.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tube after being sealed.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 19-19 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a time chart graphically illustrating the sequence of actuation of various elements of the drive arrangement in relation to the length of bags being formed.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 21-21 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 21. I

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary elevation showing the mechanism for supporting and transferring the bags and also showing mechanism for advancing the bags through the filling station.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 23 but showing the parts in moved positions.

FIG. is a fragmentary perspective view of mechanism for opening the bag.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation of parts shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a more comprehensive view of the mechanism shownin FIGS. 25 and 26 and showing the parts in moved positions.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the bag after being opened.

FIG. 29 is an elevational view of the bag opener for pulling the open end of the bag into a circular mouth, parts being broken away and shown in section.

FIG. is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 30-30 of FIG. 29 with the parts being shown in moved positions.

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary elevational view of the stretcher for flattening the the circular mouth of the bag.

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 31 but showing the parts in moved positions.

FIG. 33 is a fragmentary plan view of the stretcher shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the filled bag after the mouth has been stretched and flattened.

FIG. is a perspective view of a modified bag which may be made by the machine.

FIGS. 36 to are perspective views which schematically illustrate the various sequential steps undertaken to close and seal the modified bag after the bag has been filled with product.

FIG. 41 is a plan view showing the modified bag inserted into a carton.

FIG. 42 is a schematic perspective view showing the machine with a bag-forming section which is'modified to make still another type of bag.

FIG. 43 is an enlarged cross-section taken substantially along the line 43-43 of FIG. 42, some parts being omitted for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a bag which may be made by the machine illustrated in FIG. 42.

FIG. is a view similar to FIG. 43 but showing still a different type of bag being formed.

FIG. 46 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the seam of the bag showing in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the formation of yet another type of bag.

FIG. 48 is a fragmentary elevation view showing bags being formed with bottom gussets.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a row of bags formed with bottom gussets. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a packaging machine for converting a continuous strip or web 10 of flexible material such as foil, plastic, or paper into a pouch or bag 11 (FIG. 1), filling the same with one or more measured quantities of product 13 (FIG. 31), and thereafter closing the filled bags. The bag, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, is generally rectangular in shape and herein is made by folding a web of unbacked metallic foil longitudinally to bring the opposite edge portions of the web in to overlapping relation and thereby form opposing side panels 14 and 15, the latter panel being interrupted by a seam 16 extending lengthwise of the bag and defined by the overlapped edge portions of the web. The product, which in this instance consists of irregularly shaped and loosely compacted food particles such as cocktail snacks, cereal flakes, or the like, is enclosed in the bag by a seal running along the seam and joining the edge portions, a top seal 17 joining the upper margins of the side panels, and a bottom seal 18 joining the lower margins of the panels.

The machine is operable to form and fill bags 11 of the above character at relatively high speeds and yet without significantly wrinkling, creasing or causing the formation of small pinholes in the web 10 or the finished bags. This is achieved by drawing a length of the web off of a supply roll 19 (FIG. 2a), by folding the web longitudinally while the latter is traveling in a horizontal direction to form a tube 20 with an overlapping seam 16, and by sealing the tube both along the seam and along longitudinally spaced and transversely extending lines at a station 21 to form the bottom seals 18 of the ultimate bags. Thereafter, the bottom seals are severed along one edge at a cutting station 23 to separate each bag from the web while leaving the bag with a horizontally facing open end 24 (FIG. 1), the bag is turned into an upright position with the open end facing upwardly, and is advanced into a filling station 25 (FIG. 2b) where a measured charge of the particles 13 is deposited into the bag through the open end. Before being filled, each bag is opened widely throughout its length to accommodate a large volume of the bulky particles flowing at a rapid rate and, after being filled, is closed across its upper side to form the top seal 17.

The various operating stations are spaced along the top of an elongated frame 26 (FIGS. 6 and 18) which serves to mount the different mechanisms for forming and filling the bags 11. For purposes of simplicity, only those parts of the frame necessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been illustrated. Reference may be had to Bartelt Patent No. 2,649,674 for a more detail disclosure of an exemplary frame suitable for use with the present machine.

Herein, the foil web 10 is unwound from the supply roll 19 as the latter turns about a horizontal axis, and is drawn across a series of driven rollers 27 (FIG. 2a) to a coating station 29 where strips of adhesive are printed on one side of the web in a preselected pattern, the adhesive strips subsequently being activated to seal the seam 16 and to form the top and bottom seals 17 and 18. More specifically, the web is drawn across the upper surface of a printing drum 30 (FIGS. 2a and 4) which is driven rotatably about a horizontal axis and which turns within a trough 31 containing a bath 33 of hot melt adhesive. As the lower surface of the drum rotates counterclockwise through the trough, the adhesive is picked up on the surface and also accumulates in a shallow circumferential groove 34 (FIG. 4) formed near one end of the drum and in a pair of axially extending grooves 35 and 36 spaced approximately one-fourth of an inch from each other around the circumference of the drum. With continued rotation of the drum, a doctor blade 37 extending parallel to the drum scrapes the adhesive from the surface but leaves the adhesive remaining in the grooves so that the web, upon being pressed against and drawn across the upper surface of the drum, receives a coating of adhesive in a pattern which is correlated with the arrangement of the grooves. The groove 34 prints a strip 39 (FIG. 5) of adhesive along one edge portion of the web for subsequent use in sealing the seam 16 while the grooves 35 and 36 print a series of longitudinally spaced strips 40 and 41, respectively, extending crosswise of the web. Each cross-strip 41 is spaced longitudinally from but disposed closely adjacent to one of the cross-strips 40 and ultimately is activated to form the bottom seal 18 of the bag. The cross-strip 40 is disposed in leading relationship with respect to the adjacent cross-strip 41 and is activated to form the top seal 17 after filling of the bag.

As the Web 10 travels across the drum 30, it is pressed into firm contact with the drum surface by a pinch roller 43 disposed above the drum. Thereafter, the web is guided upwardly around a set of rollers 44' positioned against the uncoated side of the web to allow the adhesive to dry be fore the web is advanced beneath a roller 45 and along a horizontal path with the adhesive strips facing upwardly.

According to one aspect of the invention, the web 10 and the printing drum 30 are advanced with a continuous motion while the strips 3 9 to 41 are being printed on the web to insure that the strips will be recisely defined, ac- 

